Boiler replenishing system



PE ruff/v L /NE Oct. 28, 1941. F- w MILLER I 2,260,857

BOILER REPLENISHING SYSTEM Filed sept. 3o, 1957 2 sheets-sheet 1 Uct. 28, 1941. F, w MILLER 2,260,857

.BOILER REPLENI SHING SYSTEM Filed sept. so, 1957 shets-sheet 2 VE 57E/7M WHSHOUT Patented Oct. 28, 1941 2,260,857 BoILER RE'PLENISHTNGSYSTEM Frank W. Miller, chicago, nl., assigner to Franclare Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Y Application September 30, 1937, Serial No. 166,509

6 Claims. (Cl. 122-396) This invention relatesy to the replenishing of boilers -generally with .water and steam after, for instance, they have been blown off and cleaned out and aims to provide a system by which such boilers may be quickly refilled with water to the desired level and furnished with steam from an l extraneous source so as to produce a steam pressure therein suiiicient to voperate an engine for a limited time Without the employment of fire in the firebox. y

While my invention is adapted for employment in connection with boilers generally, it is particularly advantageous in replenishing locomotive boilers, because it enables such boilers to be replenished with both steam and water in such quantities as `to produce a steaming that if much vsteam were attemptedto be added such an objectionable water hammer would result from the union of the steam and water that not only would such a vibration be set up in the apparatus as to be injurious thereto, but the noise produced would be so loud as to be unbearably annoying. In cases Wherethe pressure of the steam has been greater` than the pressure of the water to be mingled with the steam and particularly where the steam serves as the propulsive or injecting force, the water hammer has Abeen very intense, and furthermore, the amount of steam employed has necessarily been so much greater than the water that a steaming pressure has been produced in the boiler long before the desired water level has been attained therein. The cost of producing such an excessive amount of steam is, of course, an unnecessary waste, and the unbalanced condition produced in the boiler is not satisfactory.

. i Greater success has been attained by using th water as the propulsiveforce and delivering such water and steam at yapproximately the same pressure as the water into, a mixing box where the steam and water are mixed, and being at substantially the same pressure, the water hammer is ,much less than where the steam is employed as the propulsive force. The amount of steam, however, that can be caused to entrain withthe water in a mixing box of this character is necessarily limited with lthe result that the amount. that the temperature of the water can be increased by the absorption of the steam heat units is correspondingly limited. v l

My present invention is designed to overcome the difficulties above briefly mentioned by providing a system which is capable of increasing the temperature of the refill water in the neighborhood of by the admixture and entrainment of steam in such water and without the production of any appreciable water hammer. In a'ccordance with my invention, the water under high pressure is employed as the propulsive force and is delivered from a nozzle into the throatof a Venturi tubie embodied in a so-called heat booster, while the steam under a lower pressure than the water is drawn in large quantities into the stream at the low pressure area in the throat ofthe venturi withxthe result that steam heat units in large volumeare added to the water to raise its temperature well above the boiling point so that in practice vthe water is delivered to the boiler at a steaming temperature of 235 F. or more. In this manner, the lboiler can be quickly refilled with water tothe desiredwater level at which time a substantial steam pressure will have been created in the boiler. If such pressure be insufficient for the self-propulsion of the locomotive, the water may be cut off when the appropriate water level in the boiler has been reached, and steam alone maythereafter be admitted until the desired boiler pressure has been reached. If still greater speed is desired, steam may, in accordance withmy invention, be delivered to the boiler independently-of the refill Water and steam being .delivered but simultaneklustrated on the accompanying drawingsY a preferred -embodiment thereof,.although it should y be understood that the invention is capable of section of one of the servicing units which is located adjacent a round house stall; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View through the heat booster shown in Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Fig. l, a pair of locomotives designated by reference characters and 6 are positioned with reference to the service equipment as they would be in the round house, it being understood that the character and number of stalls will vary as occasion, requires in different installations. The blow-off drops 1 are connected, as will be later described, with the main drops 8 of each servicing unit in a manner to be later described, and the drops 8 are adapted to be connected through flexible connections 9 either in the form of flexible conduits or pipes and flexible `joints I I, as shown in Fig. 2 with the boiler of a locomotive 6 by means of a suitable wrench I6. When the valves are suitably set, as will be later explained, the blow-off products lfrom -the boiler consisting of steam and water are blown off through the drops 1 into the blow-off main I2 by which they are delivered into the separator I3. In the separator, which is preferably of the centrifugal type, the water is separated from the steam and is conducted to the washout tank I4. From the washout tank, the water may be delivered by the pump I5 into the washout main I6 from which it may be delivered through-the washout drops I1 to the boiler to be washed out, theI drops I1- being customarily equipped with a hose or other flexible conduit for delivering the water into the boiler.

The steam rising from the separator I3 is conducted through pipe I8 to a 'condenser I9 where it is condensed by Water delivered through the pipe 2I by the circulating pump'22 which withdraws this water through the pipe 23 from the refill tank 24 and returns the water with the condensed steam from the condenser back to the refill tank through pipe 25. The water level in the refill tank is maintained by the admission of cold water from the pipe 26 controlled by the A float valve 21.

Water for boiler refillingpurposes is withdrawn from tank 24 by high pressure pump 21' and delivered -into the refill line 28, the temperature of the water in this line being maintained by a return circulation .line 29 connected to the end of the lrefill line and delivering back into the refill tank through an open heater 3| where the temperature of the returning water is-raised by the admission of live steam through the pipe 32, the delivery of this steam beingcontrolled by thermostatic valve 33 in operative -communication with the return line 29 so that this valve is opened and closed in accordance with the variations in temperature of the returning water. v

The operation of pump 21 whichreceives its steam supply through the pipe 34 is controlled by a pressure governor 35 so that a substantial pressure of preferably 120 to 150 pounds, more or less, but in any event greater than the pressure in the boiler being treated, is maintained in the refill line. u

A live steam pipe 36 is connected to receiv its steam supply from a round house boiler or other source extraneous to the locomotives, and this pipe is provided with a pressure regulator 31 adapted to maintain the steam pressure in the steam line 38 substantially below the water pressure in the refill main 28 and preferably at about 110 pounds in the exemplication of pressures here given. Both-the water and steam pressures should be greater than the pressure in the boiler being lled. In other words, for reasons which will be explained, the pressure in the steam line 38 is maintained substantially below the water pressure in the refill line 28.

Referring now to Fig. 2 wherein the washout, blow-01T, refill, and live steam lines shown in section are supported upon a suitable bracket 39 at an elevation well above the locomotives in the round house, it will be observed that each of these lines is connected with the main drop 8 of the service unit in a manner which will now be explained. The refill line 28 is connected through a riser 4I, preferably of inverted U shape with the upper end 42 of a nozzle 43 projecting into the upper end of casing 44 of the heat booster and secured to the casing by bolts 45 which also serve as a hanger for the booster. One leg of the riser is equipped with a check valve 46 adapted to prevent reverse flow into the refill line and with a shut-olf valve 41 provided with an operating lever 48 which may be actuated from the floor through the medium of drop chains 49 and 5I equipped with hand grips 52 and 53 respectively.

IThe booster casing 44 is of elongated cylindrical shape provided with an internal shoulder 54 upon which a flanged Venturi tube 55 is seated in alignment with and slightly spaced from the end of the nozzle 43, the bore of which, as will be apparent from Fig. 3, is tapered. The cross sectional area of the booster casing below the venturi is considerably greater thanv the cross-section area of the stream of water entering through the venturi.

The live steam line 38 is connected with the interior of the casing 44 in proximity to the nozzle 43 and Aahead. of the venturi 55, through a pipe 56 which is equipped with a hand shut-off valve 51 operable from the floor through chains 58 and with an adjustable regulating valve 59, which may be manually set to deliver at any predetermined rate of flow.

The casing 44 is also provided with a lateral branch 6I which is connected through a pipe 62 to ythe blow-off line I2, thisl pipe being provided with a check valve 63 to prevent reverse flow from blow-01T line I2 to the booster and with a shut-off valve 64 provided with an operating lever 65 which may be actuated from the floor through the chains 66 and 61 equipped respectively with the hand grips 68 and 69.

The system is operated in the following manner. Assuming that the conduit 9 is connected with the boiler 6 to be blown off, valves 41 and 51 are closed and valve 64 is opened permitting the 'steam and water products of the boiler to be blown off through the blow-off line I2 in the usual manner. After the boiler is blown off, the conduit 9 is disconnected therefrom, and the boiler may be Washed out by water delivered to it from the washout line I6 through the drop I1. After being washed out, the conduit 9 is reconnected to the ,boiler for replenishing purposes whereupon valve 64 is closed, and valves 41 and 51 are opened. Refill water under a pressurel of preferably 130 to 150 pounds and at atemperature somewhat below the boiling point, preferably in the neighborhood of 200 F., is now delivered from -therelllline through the nozzle 43, the venturi 55, the dropv 8, and the conduit 9, into the boiler for refilling purposes. Simultaneously, steam ata lower pressure'than the water and preferably under a pressure of approximately pounds is delivered from the steam mainV 38thru pipe-56 vinto the boosterV casingl M, around the nozzle 4 3 vand ahead of. the. venturi 55.Y As .the water under :higher pressure than the steam is discharged bythe nozzle through the venturi, its v velocity is increased and its static pressureis decreased at the throat of the venturi so that the steam surrounding the nozzle is drawn into the venturi in large quantities by the water, thereby raising the temperature of the water from around 200 to 240 to 250 so that the water when deliveredl into the boiler is considerably above steaming temperature, which results not only in the `iilling of the boiler with water but also vthe production of considerable steam pressure in the boiler during the refilling operation. Should the desired water' level be reached before a selfpropelling steam pressure is attained in the boiler, the valve 41 may be closed when the desired Water level is reached and the delivery of steam from line 38 into the boiler may be continued until the desired steam pressure has been built up.

During the replenishing operation, the temperature of the refill water is raised in the heat booster without the production of objectionable water hammer and more steam heat units are added to water, thereby producing a greater increase in water temperature than hasI heretofore, vso far as` I am aware, been produced. The elimination of the water hammer is attributable to using the water as. the propulsive force in the booster and delivering this water at a substantially higher pressure than the pressure of the heating steam, which enters the chamber around the nozzle at a lower pressure than the water and is drawn in large quantities into the Water stream by the temporary reduction in pressure in the throat of theventuri which enables the steam to enter the vent-uri and become thoroughly mingled with and entrained in the water as the stream reassumes its normal pressure and velocity upon expansion beyond the venturi.

With a system embodying my invention it is not unusual with the valves fully open to replenish a locomotive boiler at a speed of from three hundred to six hundred gallons of water perminute at a temperature of 250 or more.

If it be desirable to produce a steam pressure within the boiler suicient for self-propulsion of the locomotive in a minimum of time, the attainment of such pressure may be insured by connecting the conduit 9 of an adjacent service unit to the opposite side of the locomotive, as indicated in dotted lines at the right of the locomotive in Fig. 1, and admitting steam simultaneously through this unit to the boiler. In this manner not only is steam delivered into the boiler with the water which is being delivered for refill purposes, but additional steam is also simultaneously delivered to the boiler with the result that the locomotive is ready for self-propulsion from the round house immediately or very soon after the desired water level in the boiler has been attained.

It is believed that my invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood and appreciated from the foregoing, and it should be manifest that the structural details shown and described for illustrative purposes may be varied Within wide limitsiwithin the scope of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. The method of replenishing a steam boiler with superheated water productive of a substantial steam pressure therein when a predetermined 76 water level lin the boiler'has been attained, which consists in producing a water pressure voutside theboiler greater than thepressure within the boiler, converting the pressure head of said water into velocity head at a level higher. than the Water level inf the boiler, delivering steam from a source independent of the 4boiler and under lower pressure than the water, to thelocus lof conversion of the water from pressure to velocity head to thereby superheat said water, reconverting the velocity head of the superheated water vinto pressure head, and delivering said superheated water under pressure. into the lower portion of the boiler. I f

2. The method of replenishing a steam boiler With superheated water productive of a substantial steam pressure therein when a predetermined water level in the boiler has been attained, which consists in producing a water pressure outside vthe boiler greater than the pressure within the boiler, converting the pressure head of said water'into velocity head at a levell higherthan the. Water level inthe boiler, delivering steam from a source independent of the boiler and under lower pressure than the water to the locus of conversion of the water from pressure to velocity head to thereby superheat said water, discharging the superheated water under high velocity into a closure of greater cross sectional area than the entering stream of water to reconvert the velocity head of the superheated water into pressure head, and delivering said superheated water under pressure into the boiler.

3. The method of replenishing a steam boiler with superheated Water productive of a substantial steam pressure therein when a predetermined water level in the boiler has been attained, which consists in producing a Water pressure outside the boiler greater than the pressure within the boiler, converting the pressure head of said water into velocity head at a level higher than the water level in the boiler, delivering steam from a source independent of the boiler and under lower pressure than the Water to the locus of conversion of the Water from pressure to velocity head to thereby superheat said Water, `discharging the superheated Water under high velocity in a downward direction into a closure of greater cross sectional area than the entering stream of water to reconvert the velocity head of the superheated water into pressure head, and delivering said superheated water under pressure into the boiler.

4. The method of replenishing a steam boiler with superheated water and producing a substantial steam pressure in said boiler when a predetermined Water level'in the boiler has been attained, which consists in imposing a pressure head upon a stream of Water outside of the boiler greater than thepressure within the boiler, converting said pressure head into velocity head above the Water level in the boiler, supplying steam from a source extraneous to theboiler and under lower pressure than the water to the locus of conversion of the water from pressure to ve- I locity head to thereby superheat said water, converting the velocity head of the superheated Water into pressure head, and delivering said superheated Water under said pressure head into the boiler.

5. The method of replenishing a steam boiler so as to produce a substantial steam pressure therein when a predetermined water level inthe boiler has been attained, which consists in subjecting water outside the boiler to pressure greater than the pressure Within the boiler and conducting a streamof said water through a conned path to said boiler; converting the pressure head of said stream into velocity head in said confined path; delivering steam from a source independent of the boiler and under lower pressure than said water, but under a higher pressure than the pressure within the boiler, into surrounding relation to said stream of water and out of direct contact with said water, and substantially immediately thereafter merging said steam and water at a point ahead of, but adjacent to, the locus of conversoin of the water from pressure to velocity head to thereby impart the heat units of the steam to said water to superheat said water; reconverting the velocity head of the superheated water into pressure head; and delivering said heated water into the boiler at a pressure and temperature greater than that prevailing in the boiler.

6. A method of replenishing a steam boiler so as toproduce a substantial steam pressure therein`when a predetermined water level in the boiler has been attained, which consists in subjecting water outside the boiler to pressure greater than the pressure Within the boiler and conducting a stream of said water through a confined path to said boiler; converting the pressure head of said stream into velocity head in said confined path; directing steam, from a source independent of the boiler under a lower pressure than said Water but under a higher pressure than the pressure Within said boiler, substantially longitudinally of the water stream so that it travels in a hollow stream in the same general direction as said water stream in surrounding relation thereto and in contact with the periphery of said water stream and merging steam of said surrounding stream with said water stream as said streams approach the locus of conversion of the Water from pressure to velocity head to thereby impart the heat units of the steam to said water to superheat said water; reconverting the Velocity head of the superheated water into pressure head; and delivering said heated water into a boiler at a pressure and temperature greater than that prevailing in the boiler.

FRANK W. MULLER. 

